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SHADOW IN THE DARKNESS
by Senaka La Palme
CHAPTER 1 Paul Snow woke from another terrible nightmare. He pulled the heavy, flower patterned comforter away from his sweat sheathed body and sat up on the edge of the bed. The sudden movement made the ancient springs of the mattress creak and moan. With trembling hands he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. The dark bedroom was silent except for his wife Marie’s faint breathing and a howling wind that whistled through one of the cracked frames of a window he’d promised to fix months ago. God, would the nightmares ever end? The nightmares had plagued his sleep for months. He could barely remember them upon waking, but bits and pieces of them lingered in his foggy mind each morning. He’d tried to make sense out of them and felt as if he was putting a puzzle with no edges together. Just before waking he remembered seeing a bright flicker of red-orange light that burst behind his closed eyelids, like the flash that comes out of a firing weapon. And there was the voice. A voice he couldn’t place even though it was familiar to him. The voice was scary and boomed when speaking, sounding as if it were shouting into a bullhorn. Other times the voice would echo in his mind as if coming from a deep canyon. What the voice said - - he didn’t know. Paul looked out the window on his side of the bed and saw the purple, orange and red colors of dawn were breaking through the dark blue of night. Wearing only his skivvies he was beginning to feel chilled. He walked to the closed bedroom door and took his white bathrobe from it’s hook. He shimmied into it tying the sash tightly around his shivering body. Paul walked back across the bedroom and stood looking down lovingly at Marie. Her long, straight, auburn hair was splayed out across the white pillowcase. In the slowly lightening room she looked like an angel. Paul sigh, he always used to tell Marie she was his angel. Used too? Ever since he’d been promoted to head salesman at Heckler Technologies, where he worked selling computer systems to large corporations, he had neglected Marie. He felt terrible about how he’d treated her, he loved her more then anything else and he hadn’t shown it lately. Once the late nights and weekends had started he’d become grouchy and irritable at times. He didn’t want to be loved or show love in return. It was hard on Marie and it discouraged him that there was nothing he could do, but soon things would change, he hoped. Paul looked down at the small rise in Marie’s belly smiling. In five months he was going to be a father. He leaned over and kissed her gently on the mouth. Without opening her eyes Marie turned her head toward where he stood and mumbled that she could use some coffee. Paul lovingly caressed her cheek with his hand. "I love you Marie," he said softly. She sleepily replied that she loved him to. Paul went into the hallway and down the rickety stairs of the old farmhouse, he reminded himself for the millionth time that he had to get them fixed before someone fell. In the kitchen he brewed a pot of coffee and brought two steaming cups back to the bedroom. When he walked in Marie was sitting up in bed, her hand resting on her stomach. Marie was looking down at the baby growing inside her. A smile that warmed Paul’s heart was spread across her face. She looked up as he sat down on the edge of the bed beside her. "Its kicking!" Marie said excitedly. Paul set the cups down on the bedside table. Marie took his hand and placed it where hers had been. Paul waited for a couple of seconds than felt a faint thumping against his hand, like a tiny heart beat. Paul smiled broadly, feeling just as happy and excited as Marie. "It’s so wonderful isn’t it Paul!" Marie asked him happily. "It sure is, I’m so happy for us Marie." Paul said, feeling better then he had in quite some time. Marie reached out touching his unshaven face with her soft hands. "You haven’t gotten me up like that in a long time," Marie said. "I know Marie, I’m trying to change things back to the way they were before. I know I haven’t said it, but I feel terrible about how I’ve been treating you lately." "Paul, I understand about your job, it – it's just hard on me when you act irritated and angry all the time. I feel like I never see you anymore and when I do you don’t want to talk or anything." Marie said, her voice becoming slightly emotional. "I just never realized my promotion was going to take up so much time. I could always get my old job back." Paul was surprised to hear himself speak these words. Although he hated where he worked he enjoyed his job quite a bit. "Oh, Paul, don’t feel bad about your promotion. It has really done a lot for us. We got the mortgage on this house, you got your Mustang, and its also the reason were going to be a family soon. Do you remember?" Marie asked a knowing smile crept across her lips. "I’ll never forget that night. We went crazy like a couple of kids on prom night." Paul said smiling wickedly. Marie laughed at the look on Paul’s face. A gust of wind blew through the cracked window frame making a harsh whistling sound. Paul looked towards the disturbance. Frowning he said, "I was thinking about fixing that window this weekend." Marie leaned over and kissed him. "I want to spend time with you this weekend," she said. "Fix the window another weekend, it’s not that bad." The bedroom was now light enough so that Marie noticed the dark circles under Paul’s eyes. "Paul, are you still having those dreams?" Marie asked, concerned. Paul nodded. "Do you think you should see a doctor and get something to help you sleep or talk to someone about them?" "No, not yet. I want to wait and see if they go away on their own. I talk with Henry about them and that seems to be helping a little." Paul said, trying to assure Marie even though he was not assured himself. Marie nodded reluctantly, but said nothing more on the subject. "How is Henry? I haven’t seen him in a long time." Marie asked. Paul smiled thinking of his best friend Henry Woo. "He’s good, we’ve both been really busy at work." "Invite him over for dinner some night," Marie said. "Okay I’ll ask him today," Paul said, looking reluctantly down at his watch. "I hate to say it-" Paul began, Marie interrupted him, "Go on, go sell some multi- million dollar computer system." She gave Paul a light nudge and sat up with some effort next to him, wincing slightly. "Are you okay?" Paul asked. Marie nodded. They kissed each other and Paul went into the bathroom to get ready for another day at Heckler Technologies. Paul showered and shaved. He dressed in a crisp white shirt with a navy blue tie, sport jacket and slacks. In the bedroom he put on his mirror shone leather shoes and went downstairs. He poked his head into Marie’s office where she worked out of the house as a paralegal. She was busily typing away on her computer. "I’m going to Hell." Paul announced. Marie looked up from the glowing computer screen. "Don’t get burned." Marie said sarcastically a small smile forming at the corners of her mouth. Paul laughed as he walked into the front hall. He put on his fur lined leather jacket and gloves and took his keys from the small wooden pegboard that hung by the front door. He opened the door stepping out onto the front porch, taking a deep breath of the crisp fall air. Paul unlocked his jet-black Ford Mustang with the alarm system controls and jumped into the leather bucket seat. Paul loved the Mustang. Growing up he’d always wanted one. With its sleek body and 4.6 liter V8 engine the car practically flew him to work each morning. Paul started the car grinning childishly as the engine rumbled smoothly to life. Paul backed out of the driveway into the light, early morning traffic of Route 9. He Headed for Heckler Technologies, the economic heart of Laurel, New Hampshire. II After hearing Paul drive away Marie took her address book from the desk drawer. She flipped through the pages until finding the number of a man she’d had a one-time affair with. His name was Robert Stock. Marie had meant Robert shortly before Paul got promoted four months ago. Robert had given her what Paul hadn’t been able to give. He’d given her love, even if only for a short while. Robert had made her feel like someone. She met him well working out at a local health club of which she was a member. Robert had unexpectedly come up to her and begun flirting. Marie had been appalled at first. All she’d seen was some jerk trying to get her into bed. Than something registered in her mind and the yearning she’d been feeling for sometime was stronger then ever. Marie began playing Robert’s game, an hour later she’d found herself in his apartment, lying on his bed wearing only panties. A short while later they made love. After Robert had spent himself and rolled off of her a terrible guilt came over her. She realized that she’d just cheated on Paul. The man she loved more than anything else. Quickly, she’d dressed and told Robert that she would not be returning. Robert never rose from the bed after she’d told him her feelings toward what had happened between them. He’d written his number down on a piece of paper and handed it to her. Grinning like a horny teenage boy he’d said, "If you ever need another lay you come back here." Robert’s statement told Marie everything she needed to know about him. He was a jerk just as she’d perceived him to be and her guilt weighed even further. Marie snatched the paper from his hand and left his apartment without saying another word. Now she was calling him not because she wanted another experience with that creep, but because she had a terrible suspicion the child she was carrying was not Paul’s. She feared telling Paul about the affair and wanted to keep it a secret from him if she could. So she’d decided to call Robert and ask him if he would take a paternity test. If Robert refused she had no other choice, but to tell Paul. Her hand trembled slightly in anticipation as she picked up the receiver and dialed Robert Stock’s phone number. He picked up on the second ring. "Robert, this is Marie Snow." There was a long silence on the other end of the line. Marie became agitated at the stillness filling her ear thinking Robert had forgotten. Suddenly he spoke sounding as if he remembered her as an old acquaintance. "Oh yeah, I remember you. You’re husbands a salesman. Couldn’t give you a fuck when you wanted one so you came to me." Marie was shocked at his harsh words and arrogant tone of voice. "Robert! That’s not the way it happened and you damn well know it. What’s wrong with you?" Marie angrily replied. "Nothings wrong with me, look I’m a little busy here could you get to the point." Taking a deep breath trying to calm her anger Marie said, "I’m pregnant Robert and I think the child might be yours." There was another delayed silence, then Robert said casually, "Congratulations! Look if it's mine name it after me will ya?" Marie felt her anger rise another notch. She spoke quickly and sternly. "Robert, I want you to take a paternity test. I need to know whether or not I’m going to have to tell my husband about out affair-" Before she could finish there was a click as the phone was disconnected. Marie slammed the phone down in it’s cradle. She wondered how she could have ever gotten mixed up with Robert. Why hadn’t she noticed what a creep he was before? Had the need been that strong that she’d overlooked it? Marie felt a lump of emotion rise in her throat. She put her hands to her face and began to cry. III Heckler Technologies was located in a large three-story building constructed of concrete and shimmering glass. Paul was constantly amazed with the beauty of the structure. Even on a fall day like today, with all the shrubbery that stood along the front edge of the building bare. It stood out among the other office buildings that surrounded it. Paul pulled his Mustang into his reserved spot and stepped out into the chilly air. He engaged the security system and walked across the parking lot through the front doors into the main lobby. He politely smiled and waved to the receptionist who sat in her small half circle enclosure in the center of the lobby. She returned the gesture. Paul walked to the elevators off to the left and pressed the up button. The elevator doors slid open and he stepped inside. The doors shut with a low whoosh behind him. An automated voice said, "Welcome to Heckler Technologies. Which floor please?" Rolling his eyes Paul answered two. The CEO Timothy Heckler was such a computer enthusiast. He’d had the whole building completely computerized. The elevators, the security system, the telephones even the cafeterias were run by large Heckler designed super computers that resided in the basement, one of highest security areas in the building. Paul was surprised Heckler didn’t have automated people working for him. He had a feeling that if there were technology like that Heckler would have bought it to save money and not have to pay actual people to work in his company. The elevator doors slid open. "Floor two." The automated voice announced sounding as if it had just achieved some great accomplishment. Paul stepped out onto the second floor. Paul’s lifelong friend Henry Woo appeared at his side and walked alongside him to his office. Henry Woo had been his best friend since elementary school. He was Japanese and proud of his heritage. Paul admired him for that, in a world where so many people were ashamed of who they were. Henry stood five feet six inches tall, dark skinned, friendly and well mannered. He had always been there for Paul especially many years ago when an upsetting, yet necessary event had occurred in Paul’s life. Paul vowed to himself to always be there for Henry as well. "How are you today Paul?" Henry asked. Paul unlocked the door to his office and stepped in. Henry followed and sat down in the visitor’s chair in front of Paul’s desk. "Things could be better, how about you?" Paul replied stuffing his gloves in the pockets of his leather jacket and hanging the coat on a hook in his small closet that resided in the far corner of the cramped office. "The only thing I can think of to complain about this early in the morning is the weather. Were supposed to get a big north eastern tonight." Paul walked around his small metal desk to a four-drawer file cabinet in the corner. His small coffee maker sat on top of the cabinet. Paul brewed a pot of coffee using a jug of spring water he kept in an empty drawer of the cabinet and a special breakfast blend he’d purchased in a gourmet coffee shop on Laurel’s Main Street. "Look on the bright side Henry. Maybe work will be called off," Paul said, a smile appeared on his face. "Yeah, when Hell freezes over," Henry replied. Paul sat down at his desk and switched on his Heckler PC. The computer booted up with a low whirring sound. Start up messages flashed across the screen being pushed swiftly by the fast Heckler designed processing chip. "So, how are sales to that big corporation going?" Henry asked. Paul clicked an option on the start up menu accessing his sales data. "It’s not looking good. I think the corporation is going to take IBM’s deal. That’ll make Heckler hate my guts even more," Paul said glumly. "He hates everyone’s guts," Henry said. Paul rose and went to the coffee maker. He filled two mugs with black coffee and sat back down at his desk. He handed a cup to Henry and placed the other on his felted, green desk blotter. "Yeah, but he hates me the most and I can’t figure out why?" Paul said, taking a drink of his coffee. Henry shrugged his shoulders. "I can’t help you there pal." Henry leaned back in his chair holding the mug of coffee in both hands. "You look very tired Paul. Are you still having those nightmares?" Henry asked concerned. Paul nodded looking away from the computer screen to Henry. "I can’t remember them Henry. All I remember are a flash of light a voice and that they scare the hell out of me. Ah, I don’t know why I feel funny about them. Maybe it’s because they happen every night or because the parts I remember don’t feel like dreams." Henry nodded in understanding. "You know dreams have been known to have hidden meaning. Maybe you should talk to someone besides me about them, someone who understands dreams. I can give you the name of a man I know who is good at deciphering dreams." "Well, I’ve thought about it believe me. I just don’t have the time or the ambition for it." There was a knock on Paul’s door and the head of Timothy Heckler poked in the doorway. "Can I talk to you outside Paul? Now!" Heckler said angrily, the office door slammed shut. "Uh oh," said Henry. Paul stood and walked out the door of his office to face Heckler. Timothy Heckler was frowning and raging fire burned in his eyes. He stared angrily at Paul. Paul stood facing him, waiting for him to blow his top. He all ready knew what had happened, he’d lost the deal. "Paul, do you want to tell me why your sales account with that new company was just ripped apart? Because the corporation took IBM’s deal over ours!" Heckler spoke so loudly it caused everyone in the office to turn their head toward them. Heckler was breathing heavily and Paul was afraid the man was going to have a coronary. Weighing two hundred something at age fifty he was a perfect candidate. "Mr. Heckler you gave me instructions to go at a higher price than IBM. I told you that they would go with IBM and you said they wouldn’t. It wasn’t my fault and IBM has more money and more expertise than this company that is still growing and sir; they make better computers." This enraged Heckler even more and he shouted in Paul’s face spittle spraying off his lips. "Snow, if you didn’t have a kid on the way I’d kick your ass all the way to IBM’s corporate offices since you seem so goddamn interested in them! You’d better find someone else to sell to today! Do you get me Snow!" Paul nodded feeling his face turn red knowing twenty pairs of eyes were on him. Heckler stormed from the office. How dare Heckler humiliate him like this, oh he’d pay for this. Paul walked back into his office slamming the door behind him. "Wow, what happened out there?" Henry asked. Paul sat down behind his desk and drank some more coffee. "I had a sudden attack of ‘Heckler syndrome.’ I lost my account to IBM nearly got myself fired and was threatened to have my ass kicked to IBM’s corporate offices which wouldn’t be bad at all if it didn’t require moving. Henry leaned over the desk and whispered to Paul as if he thought the office might be bugged, in fact it probably was. "I’m glad they took IBM’s deal. They deserve to have good computers. Not the crap Heckler makes and sells at a price so damn high even the President couldn’t afford them." Paul nodded in agreement. Henry set his empty coffee cup on Paul’s desk and left him to his work. It was going to be a busy and stressful day. IV Once she had calmed Marie decided she was going to have to tell Paul about her affair after all. She spent half an hour trying to decide whether or not to call him than after making her decision she picked up the phone and called him at work. After she went through the computer answering service Paul’s phone began to ring. Marie felt her heart thudding away nervously in her chest. Paul answered on the fourth ring. His voice sounded weary and upset. Oh great he’s having a bad day she thought. "Paul," she said her voice filled with uncontrollable emotion. "Marie, are you Okay? What’s wrong?" Paul asked alarmed by the tone of Marie’s voice. At first Paul thought something had happened to the baby, a miscarriage. Marie began to cry and through her sobs told Paul about her affair with Robert Stock. Than she told him she thought the baby might not be his and broke into fresh sobs. When Marie finished there was a long silence. Than Paul said, sounding quite unhappy, "Oh, Marie if only we’d talked about your feelings before. If only I had not been so blind, this never would have happened." Marie began to cry again. "Do you want me to come home?" Paul asked. All thoughts of his sales deadline vanishing from his mind. Not replying to his question Marie snapped. "Aren’t you angry Paul?" She said this so loudly and vehemently that Paul pulled the phone away from his ear. Irritated he said, "Yes, of course I’m angry, but I want our marriage to work and I want to talk about this I don’t want to have a shouting match. So, do you want me to come home?" "No, Paul we can talk when you get home." Marie hung up without saying good bye. "Great." Paul said to himself. "What else is going to happen to today?" V Surprisingly by six that evening Paul managed to end the day with a miracle by selling an account to a large overseas company. He was proud of himself, but doubted he’d get any recognition from Heckler even though he’d just sold close to a hundred million dollars worth of Heckler computer systems. Sighing with relief he switched off his computer and locked up his office for the night. He poked his head into Henry’s cubicle and said goodnight. Henry looked up from the glowing computer monitor. "Have a good night. And good luck with Marie I hope you work things out." "I just hope we don’t have a big argument. I’ll let you know tomorrow." Henry turned back to the screen and began typing away on the keyboard. Paul admired Henry for the effort and dedication he had for his job often staying after hours to get work finished before going home. Paul took the elevator down to the lobby and walked out into the frigid, November night. Because of storm clouds rolling in there was no moonlight, flurries had begun falling, a cold wind blew harshly from the north. Paul’s car was parked underneath one of the large fluorescent lamps that were lined neatly around the parking lot. He unlocked his Mustang. As he sat down in the driver’s seat he noticed a piece of notebook paper underneath his windshield wiper. The folded sheet of lined paper flapped against the windshield making a light tapping noise against the safety glass. Paul snatched the paper and opened it. Three lines were written neatly across the page. I am the light and the voice. I am The Shadow in the Darkness. Tonight you will remember the dreams. Paul’s hands began to tremble as he scanned the lines. He sprinted across the parking lot back through the front doors. He raced through the lobby to the elevators and waited impatiently for the doors to open and the stupid voice to finish it’s welcome. When the doors slid open on the second floor he ran to Henry’s cubicle. Henry was frowning and slapping the side of his monitor. "Goddamn thing," he muttered. "Henry!" Paul said in a hoarse voice. Henry looked up startled. He saw the wide-eyed terror in his friend’s face. "Jesus, Paul what’s the matter?" With a trembling hand Paul gave the note to Henry. He studied it and looked up at his distraught friend. "Paul, sit down a minute." Henry said pointing to a small metal fold up chair in the corner of his cubicle. Paul got the chair, unfolded it and sat down beside Henry’s desk. "Look Paul it’s probably just someone’s idea of a joke. So just calm down and relax." Paul took a few deep breaths. Henry handed the note back to him. Paul took it and stuffed it in his jacket pocket. "I don’t know what to do Henry," Paul said sounding exasperated. "This whole thing with the dreams just keeps getting weirder and weirder." "I think you should go home and straighten out this mess with Marie and not worry about the dreams. If there still bothering you tomorrow I’ll give you the name of someone you can talk to." Henry spoke soothingly. Paul stood and folded the chair, placing it back in the corner. He patted Henry’s shoulder, his hand still trembling slightly. "Your right Henry, sorry I went a little crazy there." Henry shrugged his shoulders "Hey, I’d be freaked out to, but just try to forget the note for now. Lets’ talk some more about it tomorrow." Henry smiled comfortingly at Paul. They said good-bye to each other again and Paul walked back out to his car. After Paul had gone back into the elevator, Henry took a piece of paper from his wallet. He picked up his phone and dialed the number. The phone was answered almost immediately. "Mr. Nguyen, this is Henry." Henry nodded as the man named Nguyen spoke to him on the other end of the phone. "Yes, Mr. Nguyen. My feelings about this aren't good either. I'm worried about him. Something bad is going to happen. I just know it." Henry listened again, nodding. The two men said their goodbyes. Henry placed the phone back into the receiver. A very grim look now covering his face. Walking across the parking lot Paul kept looking over his shoulder expecting something to leap out at him, the line from the strange message running through his mind. I am The Shadow in the Darkness. Why did that sound so familiar? He got into his car and sped off toward home. Twenty minutes later he pulled up the paved driveway of his home. Paul walked through the front door trying to keep calm. He and Marie needed to talk. Paul decided not to mention the letter to her at the moment. She was upset enough and he didn’t want anything to happen to the baby. Marie came into the front hall. Her eyes were puffy and red from crying. She put her head on his shoulder and began to cry. "I’m so sorry Paul. Please don’t leave me." Marie said through her choked voice. Paul put his arm around her trying to give comfort. He spoke to her, "I love you Marie I never meant for things to be this way. Its all my fault I’m the one who should be apologizing." Paul gently took her head from his shoulder and kissed her. She rubbed the tears from her face with the back of her hand, trying unsuccessfully to smile at him. "Go sit down in the living room. I’ll fix some coffee and we can talk this whole thing out." Marie nodded and went quietly into the living room. Paul sigh, he went into the kitchen and brewed a pot of coffee. He brought two cups into the large living room. The room was lit dimly by two small lamps that sat on tables, one on each side of the couch. The couch faced a large, picture window that looked out on the forest behind the house. Marie was sitting on the couch, a cushion tucked behind her. Paul set the cups down on the glass topped, oak coffee table that sat in front of the couch and sat down next to Marie. "Tell me what happened Marie? I need to know what you’re feeling so we can work this out." Paul said trying to keep his voice calm even though he was feeling angry. Marie looked sullenly toward him. "You wouldn’t love me and I felt like you didn’t even know I existed until this morning. I feel guilty about cheating on you and Robert made me feel terrible like I was a whore." Paul suddenly felt guilty and now he felt even more anger because this Robert character had made his wife feel violated. Paul took both her hands in his. "Marie, I would never purposefully try to hurt you. I’ve been so damn busy these last few months. There’s all kinds of crazy business going on at Heckler. It’s not an excuse there’s no excuse for the way I’ve made you feel and I’m really sorry for that. I’m angry that you slept with someone else and the child might not be mine. Regardless of whether or not it is I’ll love it and take care of it as if it were. Marie smiled weakly, "Thank you Paul for understanding. I hope that someday you can forgive me for the affair and even though it might not make a difference it was only once. Paul squeezed her hand lovingly than said, "Tell me more about Robert." A hint of jealously laced his voice. Marie told Paul about what a jerk Robert had been both during the affair and on the phone with her today. Paul found himself getting even more upset. After Marie was finished they sat in silence for a while than Paul told her about his wonderful day at work and his encounter with Tim Heckler. "You won’t have to be there forever Paul" He nodded looking at his watch. It was eleven Paul stood and stretched. "I’m going to lie down its getting late." Paul said. "Okay, I’m going to sit here for a while." Marie said. He hugged and kissed her before going upstairs. In the bedroom he undressed and hung his clothes neatly on the back of the bathroom door. He got into bed and fell asleep instantly. He’d completely forgotten the mysterious message he’d received. Tonight you will remember the dreams. The thought ran through Paul’s mind. A look of confusion crossed over his face. Than disappeared, a short while later the nightmares began... Publication date: January 1998
Author: Senaka La Palme
COPYRIGHT 1998 - 2007, 2008 Senaka La Palme
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED WORLDWIDE
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
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